Level 1 Certification Program

Applied Narrative Intelligence

Narrate the Impossible. Build the Inevitable. Leverage the power of story to transform your work and world.

Next live cohort launches April 2026

In the Age of Artificial Intelligence

...Narrative Intelligence Is the New Superpower.

Artificial Intelligence can think faster than you. It can analyze data, predict trends, and perform tasks in seconds. But it can’t tell your story.

AI thrives on information, but humans thrive on connection. Connection happens through story. And the most successful leaders, creators, and changemakers in the world understand this:

Every challenge is a story problem.
Every solution begins with a new story.

If you want to thrive in today’s world, you need more than information—you need Narrative Intelligence. The ability to understand, craft, and leverage stories isn’t just a skill; it’s the foundation for influence, transformation, and growth.

Too Much Noise,
Not Enough Clarity

We live in a world overwhelmed by noise. Information is everywhere, but clarity is rare. Stories, when used intentionally, can cut through the chaos, inspire action, and create meaningful change.

But without the right tools and frameworks, storytelling often falls flat.

Your ideas don’t resonate the way they should.
Your message struggles to connect with the people who need it most.
You feel unsure how to use stories to align teams, inspire clients, or lead transformation.

The result? Missed opportunities, frustrated potential, and a growing sense that you could be doing more.

The Cost of
Inaction

Every day you delay mastering Narrative Intelligence is a day your vision sacrifices potential. AI may dominate the information age, but humans will always be driven by story. If you’re not leveraging this fundamental truth, you’re falling behind in a world that’s moving faster than ever.

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Explore Our Flagship Certification Program.

Here at the Istoria Institute, we are building the premier Global Center for Narrative Intelligence. And we’re thrilled to offer the first-of-its-kind Applied Narrative Intelligence Certification Program. This 12-week program empowers you to:

Understand how stories drive behavior, decision-making, and connection.
Apply narrative frameworks to solve problems, align teams, and create transformation.
Stand out as a leader or practitioner equipped to navigate and influence complex narratives.

This isn’t about becoming a storyteller. It’s about becoming a storymaker—someone who shapes the future with intention, clarity, and purpose.

Get Certified

"It’s rare—so rare—to encounter a program or presentation that is truly remarkable. One that is thought-provoking. One that lingers long after it ends, even waking you up in the middle of the night. The entire certification program so far has been THAT. It’s stupendous, really.

I’ve taken part in many programs—Stanford, MIT, NYU, Babson, Columbia, Transformation Academy—but none have matched the depth, authenticity, and connectedness of this experience."

O. M.

Unsolicited email from certified member

What Is Narrative Intelligence?

It’s more than storytelling. It’s the ability to recognize, understand, and influence the stories that drive every thought, choice, and action. It’s about seeing the invisible narratives shaping behavior and using them to create meaningful change.

Narrative Intelligence isn’t just a skill. It’s the operating system of influence and transformation in every field:

Leadership: Align teams and inspire action with clarity and conviction.
Coaching/Therapy: Help clients uncover and rewrite limiting beliefs to create growth.
Entrepreneurship: Build a brand story that resonates and inspires loyalty.
Education: Design experiences that engage and transform learners.

Get Certified

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Get Back What You Put In—And More.

Investing in this certification is an investment in your ability to lead, connect, and create impact. Here’s what you’ll gain:

Immediate Clarity: Understand the stories driving your challenges—and how to shift them.
Greater Influence: Craft narratives that inspire trust, alignment, and action.
Tangible Results: Drive measurable change in your work, relationships, and world.
More Meaning and More Money: Connect deeper to your work and make a lot more money doing it.

What’s the value of a story that lands? A client that commits? A team that aligns? A vision that becomes reality? For most, it’s priceless.

Get Certified

Your Certification Cohort Includes:

Gain the skills, tools, and confidence to lead, connect, and transform through story.

The Istoria Institute’s 12-week Certification in Applied Narrative Intelligence equips you with the tools to harness story as a powerful force for meaningful change in leadership, coaching, and beyond.

Live Certification Sessions
Weekly 90-minute Zoom sessions to explore the foundations of Narrative Intelligence. Learn how stories shape behavior, navigate key narrative stages, and increase your fluency in the language of story.
Guidance from Experts
Learn directly from Michael McRay—lead certification trainer and nationally recognized story authority—and gain actionable insights from a leading expert in Narrative Intelligence.
Tools and Resources
Exclusive frameworks and exercises to help you apply Narrative Intelligence in real-world contexts.
Case Studies
Explore practical applications of storytelling through real-world examples and interactive discussions.

Get Certified

Join Now

The Certification Path

The next Level 1 Cohort live calls begin Tuesday, April 7, 2026 — Join now!

Level 1 Certification

Applied Narrative Intelligence

Learn the foundational tools and frameworks of Narrative Intelligence.
Uncover the science and art behind the storytelling techniques that inspire and engage.
Future-proof your work and equip yourself to thrive in the Imagination Age and Wisdom Economy.

Level 1 Certification

Applied Narrative Intelligence

$1,497

$997

Special enrollment rate ends when our next live cohort begins — April 7, 2026.

Level 2 Certification

Experiential Narrative Practice

Next Cohort Fall 2026

$2,997

Enrollment in our in-person training experience in Nashville, TN in October 2026.
Includes full access to the Level 1 Applied Narrative Intelligence certification program.
Develop advanced techniques for guiding individuals or groups through transformative storymaking.
Sky-rocket your value and earning potential in the Wisdom Economy.

Level 3 Certification

Experiential Narrative Coach

Coming Soon

$4,997

Integrate Istoria's innovative and experiential coaching methodology founded in the principles and practices of applied Narrative Intelligence.
Receive ongoing professional development and supervision alongside a supportive community of fellow narrative practitioners.
Access proprietary tools, resources, and marketing assets.

Michael McRay

Lead Trainer, Istoria Institute Certifications

Michael McRay is a nationally recognized storytelling expert, experiential coach, and keynote speaker who helps people and organizations become better stories. He is the founder of Becoming Restoried, a life-story coaching practice rooted in experiential healing; and the host of Tenx9 Nashville, the city’s longest-running monthly storytelling event. Michael also leads certification trainings in narrative intelligence and experiential narrative practice through the Istoria Institute.

With a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, he is the award-winning author of I Am Not Your Enemy and his 2025 release The Wild Way: Navigating the Space Between the Old Story and the New. Michael has brought his work to places like NASA, TEDx, Cisco, Accenture, and beyond.

In this certification, Michael will guide you step-by-step to master the frameworks, tools, and strategies to apply narrative intelligence in any context.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When are the calls, and how long?

What are structures of calls? Will they be interactive?

Is there homework?

If I miss a live session, will I be penalized?

What makes this certification different from other storytelling programs?

Most storytelling programs focus on the how—techniques for crafting and delivering a good story. This certification goes deeper, focusing on why stories shape human behavior and how to harness them intentionally. It’s about Narrative Intelligence—the ability to understand, analyze, and leverage the invisible stories driving decisions, relationships, and systems. You’ll learn tools and frameworks that are immediately applicable and set you apart as a leader in this emerging field.

How will this certification help me professionally?

Narrative Intelligence is poised to become a must-have skill for leaders, coaches, and communicators, much like Emotional Intelligence did years ago. This certification positions you ahead in a field that’s about to take off. You’ll gain a credential that signals your authority and gives you a competitive edge, plus tools you can use immediately to build trust, influence teams, and drive meaningful change in your work.

Why should I invest now instead of waiting?

Joining the founder’s cohort means you’re getting in at the ground floor of a game-changing movement. As the Istoria Institute establishes itself as the global authority on Narrative Intelligence, the value of this certification—and its cost—will only increase. By enrolling now, you lock in the lowest price it will ever be and position yourself as a leader in an emerging field before it becomes mainstream. Plus, you’ll gain lifetime certification with no ongoing renewal costs.

Still Have Questions?

Schedule a brief Clarity Call with Michael McRay to get any lingering questions answered and discover whether or not the Applied Narrative Intelligence certification cohort is right for you.

Schedule a Clarity Call

Your Story, Transformed. Your Impact, Amplified.

The world doesn’t need more noise. It needs leaders, creators, and changemakers who know how to shape the future through story.

Are you ready to narrate the impossible and build the inevitable?

Get Certified

Spaces are limited to ensure a personalized and impactful experience. Don’t wait—invest in your story, your work, and your future today.

Applied Narrative Intelligence

In the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Too Much Noise, Not Enough Clarity

The Cost of Inaction

Explore Our Flagship Certification Program.

What Is Narrative Intelligence?

Get Back What You Put In—And More.

Your Certification Cohort Includes:

The Certification Path

Level 1 Certification

Applied Narrative Intelligence

Level 1 Certification

Applied Narrative Intelligence

$997

Level 2 Certification

Experiential Narrative Practice

$2,997

Level 3 Certification

Experiential Narrative Coach

$4,997

Michael McRay

Frequently Asked Questions

Still Have Questions?

Your Story, Transformed. Your Impact, Amplified.

Too Much Noise,
Not Enough Clarity

The Cost of
Inaction